AfD co-chair urges Merz to ‘draw conclusions’ after crushing election defeat

AfD co-chair urges Merz to ‘draw conclusions’ after crushing election defeat Alice Weidel added that the AfD’s long-term strategy aims at coalition negotiations with the Christian DemocratsBERLIN, September 20. /TASS/. Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to face the consequences of the Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) failure in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election and abandon the political "firewall" barring cooperation with the right wing. Speaking on the ZDF television channel, Weidel attributed the CDU's poor performance directly to its refusal to cooperate with her party. "Friedrich Merz must draw conclusions. He needs to do this for his party and for Germany," Weidel stated, adding that the AfD’s long-term strategy aims at coalition negotiations with the Christian Democrats. The politician also argued that the "firewall" policy handed The Left Party its victory in the concurrent Berlin state elections. On September 20, Germany held elections for the Berlin House of Representatives and the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The AfD leads the latter with approximately 37% of the vote, followed by the Social Democrats at around 35.5%, and The Left Party at about 7.5%. The CDU secured just 5.5% - marking the conservatives' worst-ever result in a state election. The Greens also received 5.5%, while the BSW party, at 5%, teeters on the threshold required to enter the state parliament. Following a previous failure in Saxony-Anhalt, Merz's party has suffered its second crushing defeat in state elections this month alone. While the chancellor described the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern result as a disaster, he insisted he would remain CDU chairman and chancellor. However, the blow has severely eroded his authority, leaving his political future in doubt, according to experts. A recent poll by the Forsa institute shows that only 10% of Germans approve of the chancellor's performance, while nearly half expect his resignation this year. For the AfD, the victory in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern marks its third state election win, following previous successes in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. TagsGermanyAfD clinches victory in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state vote, exit poll showsThe AfD is leading the vote with approximately 37%, followed by the SPD at around 35.5%, and The Left Party at about 7.5%Read moreUS F-35 fighter en route to Finland stranded in Azores due to malfunction — YleThe broadcaster cited Finnish Air Force Chief of Staff Aki Puustinen as saying that the aircraft’s onboard diagnostic system issued a warning regarding a potential malfunction in the plane’s electronic system during engine startupRead moreTrump administration does not believe war with Iran ongoing — speaker JohnsonAccording to the House of Representatives speaker, the conflict is in its final stageRead moreRussian nuclear triad guarantees sovereignty, international balance of power — PutinRussian leader named its strengthening as one of the unconditional prioritiesRead moreHouthis claim they carried out missile strikes on targets in Riyadh and YanbuRepresentative of the movement Yahya Saree said that the attacks were a response to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing strikes on YemenRead moreUS embassies in Middle East issue security alert for US citizensThe statement linked the alert with hostilities involving Iranian-supported Houthis and warned that the "military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly"Read moreRussian parliamentary election turnout exceeds 2021 levelAs of 3:14 p.m. Moscow time (12:14 p.m. GMT), voter turnout in the current election stood at 52.62%, according to data from Russia’s Central Election CommissionRead moreLavrov-Rubio meeting in New York being arranged, Russian diplomat saysRussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also confirmed that the issue of Ukraine remains a key topic in the negotiationsRead moreFairness of Russian elections beyond doubt — observer from MaliBrahima Fomba mentioned, that voting system is based on high·tech solutionsRead moreZaporozhye Region’s turnout at 72.88% as of 5:00 p.m. GMTThe results confirm the active civic stance of the region’s residents, said the regional election commissionRead moreUS-Iran talks deadlocked — Turkey’s foreign ministerHakan Fidan underlined that Ankara and other countries are putting forward initiatives and "doing everything possible to ensure that the negotiations between Washington and Teheran are concluded"Read moreTime running out for Ukrainian troops in Kursk area to lay down arms — KremlinPutin thus responded to the call of US President Donald Trump, who offered to "spare" the Ukrainian troops in Kursk RegionRead moreRussian parliamentary election turnout rises to 44.63% — election authorityThe information was posted on the Russian Central Election Commission’s website and reflects data as of 1:00 a.m. GMTRead moreRussian air defenses intercept 936 Ukrainian UAVs, seven smart bombs over past dayOverall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 674 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 284 helicopters, 240,045 unmanned aerial vehicles, 672 surface-to-air missile systems, 30,957 tanks and other armored combat vehiclesRead moreOver 104,000 Russians abroad voted in State Duma elections — Russian MFA spokeswomanMaria Zakharova added that election officials conducted 120 mobile early voting sessionsRead moreTASS: Iran ready to return to negotiations if US convinces Tehran of sincerityThe Islamic Republic still considers talks on nuclear issues possible, but only after full implementation of the Islamabad agreementRead moreSlovakian troops not going to fight Russia for those seeking conflict — premierRobert Fico said that those interested in provoking a military conflict between NATO and Russia "must bear the responsibility for such a move"Read moreElection commissions in regions where drones fly defy “terrorist scum” — Foreign MinistryThe Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that she is shocked by the courage of the election commission staffRead morePutin extends 2014 food embargo until 2029The food embargo, introduced in response to the unfriendly actions of the West, applies to products from the US, the EU, Australia, Norway, and CanadaRead moreKiev troops shell DPR 30 times in past day, 18 woundedThree children were among the injuredRead moreRussian forces hit cargo ship, logistics center near OdessaThe targets hit in the Odessa Region were a cargo ship in the port of Odessa that had delivered military supplies and the Novaya Pochta logistics center, located 1.5 km north of OdessaRead moreRussian air defenses must ultimately be able to repel any attack from air — PutinImprovement of the air defense system is another key focus, noted Russian presidentRead moreAttacks on Russian online vote system involve AI, darknet — officialOleg Artamonov added that no disruptions were detected during the first two days of the voteRead moreTurnout on federal remote electronic voting platform reaches 90%More than 4 million people in total submitted applications to vote via the federal digital platformRead moreCurrent State Duma election turnout outstrips 1993, 2016, 2021 levelsCentral Election Commission data as of 06:04 p.m. Moscow time puts the current turnout at 54.96%Read moreMoscow diplomat laces into EU chief Kallas over latest 'outrageous' Russia claimsMaria Zakharova said these verbal attacks cannot be left unansweredRead moreRussian parliamentary election turnout rises to 44.75% — election authorityThe information was posted on the Russian Central Election Commission’s website and reflects data as of 3:00 a.m. GMTRead moreTASS Director General opens OANA Executive Committee meeting in MoscowAndrey Kondrashov recalled that a media forum dedicated to the organization’s 65th anniversary will open on MondayRead moreRussia seeks sustainable peace in Ukraine conflict — Kremlin spokesmanAccording to Dmitry Peskov, The Ukraine process is currently on hold Read moreKiev plotting special operations to disrupt elections in Russia — diplomatRodion Miroshnik says that a significant amount of forces is being concentrated on DPR and LPRRead moreMore than 45% of Russians have voted in the election as of Sunday morning — CEC chairwomanThe number of voters who cast their ballots through the remote electronic voting system exceeded 6 millionRead moreDrone attack on Moscow Region leaves two dead — governorBetween 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Moscow time on Sunday, at least 249 drones were jammed and destroyed in 17 municipalities of the Moscow RegionRead moreAir defenses down 344 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight — top brassOn-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 344 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over the past night over the Leningrad, Novgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Oryol, Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Vladimir, Rostov, Krasnodar, Moscow Regions, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, the Republic of Dagestan and over the Black SeaRead moreRussian forces hit tanker carrying military supplies for Ukrainian troopsThe footage shows a tanker hit by two Geran-4 Seeker drones in the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa RegionRead moreRussia ready to restore relations with its European neighbors — PutinRussian president mentioned that during a meeting of the Military-Industrial CommissionRead moreFrench journalist who launched inquest into Brigitte Macron’s sex reported deadAccording to journalist Xavier Poussard, Natacha Rey died of cancerRead moreKremlin advisor reveals 'cure for US aggression'Putin's advisor also believes that Donald Trump is just "doing what the ruling elite expects him to do"Read moreChina criticizes new US law that tightens sanctions against Russia and IranBeijing consistently opposes unilateral sanctions that lack authorization from the UNRead moreEuropeans send clear signal in elections they do not want war with Russia — PutinThe head of state said that some European leaders are openly stating that they are preparing for war with RussiaRead moreAeroflot, Rostec sign contract for delivery of 90 MC-21 aircraftThe contract became the largest in the history of Russian civil aviationRead moreUnidentified man splashes wine into Hungarian premier’s face to protest his policiesNo information about this man’s political affiliation has been published so farRead moreTrump announces creating AI Force in similar vein to Space ForceThe US president did not specify whether he meant creating a new branch of the Armed ForcesRead moreTop Turkish diplomat reports discussing Ukraine with Russian deputy premierHakan Fidan added that reaching an agreement "appears to be a very difficult task," but efforts must continueRead moreMayor reports damage at Moscow oil refineryNo casualties were reported, Sergey Sobyanin saidRead moreAir defenses intercept all Flamingo missiles heading for Moscow region — Defense MinistryRead moreTrump orders triumphal arch converted into military complexUS President stressed that he made the decision "at the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes"Read moreRussian troops strike logistics centers, energy sites used by Ukrainian army in past dayOperational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck arms depots, logistics centers, fuel and energy, transport and port infrastructure facilities in Ukraine used by the Ukrainian army, ammunition and materiel depots, workshops assembling and sites storing unmanned aerial vehicles and their componentsRead moreTrump makes attempts to resolve conflict in Ukraine — US envoy to UNMike Waltz added that during his upcoming address from the UN General Assembly rostrum, the US president plans to speak about sovereignty, as well as "about the peace deals," both those already attained and in works Read moreRussian parliamentary election turnout exceeds 44.5% — election authorityThe information was posted on the Russian Central Election Commission’s website and reflects data as of 9:00 p.m. GMTRead moreState Duma election voters’ turnout exceeds 32.58% as of 2:00 p.m. Moscow time — CECRussia’s Central Election Commission provides the dataRead moreLarge-scale cyberattacks on electronic voting system recorded and repelled in MoscowVideo surveillance of the polling stations continues after they closeRead moreGeographical coverage of voters in South Africa expanded — Russian ambassadorRoman Ambarov said, that it has been widened to take into account the state's specificsRead moreNumber of drones destroyed while approaching Moscow reaches 338First responders are working in areas where fragments fell, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reportedRead moreChile’s ex-president Bachelet withdraws from campaign to lead UNThe politician thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum for nominating and supporting herRead moreDenmark accepts Greenland deal due to lack of defense funds, Rubio says"Denmark and Greenland understand that they don't have the financial means necessary to defend Greenland if it were to come under attack or be threatened," US Secretary of State Marco RubioRead moreZelensky will try to close Ukraine's budget deficit via mobilization — Russian diplomatRussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed to Zelensky's statement regarding the massive budget shortfall and his pledge to fix itRead moreRussian parliamentary election turnout reaches 44.58% — election authorityThe information was posted on the Russian Central Election Commission’s website and reflects data as of 11:00 p.m. Saturday GMTRead moreIran conveys conditions for ending war to US — Security Council SecretaryWe have not yet made a decision to withdraw from the Non·Proliferation Treaty, and this issue depends on Washington’s behavior, said the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen RezaeiRead moreKiev’s strike on Russian regions becomes largest since start of special military operationAs the Russian Defense Ministry previously emphasized, "the attempt at a massive attack on Moscow failed, the enemy failed to reach its targets"Read morePutin congratulates South Ossetian president Kambolov on Republic DayThe Russian president noted that Russia will continue to assist the authorities and people of South Ossetia in addressing important challengesRead moreKiev loses over 1,340 troops along engagement line in past day — Russia’s top brassThe latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost up to 245 troops in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, more than 210 troops in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and some 145 troops in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup SouthRead moreRussians choose future for their children by voting today — human rights commissionerYana Lantratova also said that elections in Russia are being held democratically and openly, a view shared by international observers and election expertsRead moreRussia’s latest MiG-35 multirole fighter at final stage of trials, says defense contractorThe MiG official was interviewed by TASS on the occasion of the anniversary of the Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatic groupRead moreDuma commission registers over 200 attempts to disrupt regional elections in RussiaOrchestrators focused primarily on shaping a negative information agenda in Russian regions regarding the special military operation, the country's socio-economic situation, and migration, commission chairman Vasily Piskarev toldRead moreCurrent Ukrainian regime focused solely on war — Ukraine’s ex PMNikolay Azarov stressed that Kiev's allies should question where their support is leadingRead morePolling stations’ hours in DPR to be cut on September 20 over higher drone activityThey will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. Moscow timeRead moreAt least 48 people died in clashes in southern Yemen over past 24 hours — AFPThe fighting is taking place on the border between the provinces of Lahij and TaizRead moreGermany artificially inflates crisis by accusing Russia of UAV accident — GFCN expertsThey pointed out that the incident itself took place in early August, but official statements on this issue emerged on behalf of the German side only on September 1Read moreRussian air defenses repel largest-ever Ukrainian drone attack, mayor saysMayor Sergey Sobyanin added that 450 drones had been shot down on the approach to MoscowRead moreRussian forces hit Fire Point warehouse storing drone components in Kiev RegionRussian forces carried out overnight strikes with unmanned aerial vehicles on logistics centers, warehouses and ports in UkraineRead moreRussian envoy points to Germany's post-traumatic disorder after failure to gain UNSC seatGermany blamed Russia for the defeat, Vasily Nebenzya notedRead moreRussia says not to start dialogue with those asserting Russophobia, neo-Nazism — ZakharovaRussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman said that everyone who "comes to Russia with love, and perhaps even for love," is always welcomed with open armsRead moreMoscow says Latvia, Estonia try to intimidate Russians who want to voteRussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained, that the police check and record the documents of any person who tries to enter the Russian embassyRead moreRussian forces drawing a noose around Ukrainian troops in Kharkov areaEncircled enemy personnel have been struck in the areas of Komissarovo, Krasny Yar, Grachevka, Khripuny, and Buzovo, head of the Battlegroup North press center Vasily Mezhevykh saidRead moreAll attempts to disrupt State Duma votes abroad failed — Russian Deputy FMState Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Yevgeny Ivanov also highlighted the total failure of a widely publicized campaign orchestrated by the non-systemic opposition, who had planned to paralyze polling stations with mass midday gatheringsRead moreGrynspan pulls ahead in race for UN chief — sourceNine Security Council members backed Rebeca Grynspan in the race, five opposedRead moreRussian forces capture new lines in two sectors near DPR’s Druzhkovka — military expertAndrey Marochko noted that the Russian army is demonstrating "positive dynamics"Read moreIran will keep Strait of Hormuz closed until US accepts its terms — parliamentary speakerEarlier, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said that Iranian authorities have conveyed their conditions for ending the war to the US through Qatari mediatorsRead moreRussian parliamentary election turnout rises to 45.1% — election authorityThe Russian Central Election Commission said on its websiteRead moreChairwoman of Central Election Commission says term "unfriendly countries" is too mildElla Pamfilova said that it is time to come up with a new term for themRead moreRussian forces hit Radionix plant, B-Mobile data center in KievRussian forces carried out group strikes overnight using air-launched precision weapons and strike unmanned aerial vehiclesRead moreUS diesel fuel prices hit record of $6.49 per gallon — American Automobile AssociationGallon of diesel fuel cost $6.17 a week earlierRead moreVucic plans to meet with Lavrov at UN General Assembly sessionThe high-level general debate, attended by heads of state and government and foreign ministers, will take place at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22-26 and September 28Read moreChinese imports of Russian LNG up 28.2%, of oil - up 18.1% in January-AugustIn value terms, supplies grew 13.2% and 33.3%, respectivelyRead moreUkrainian forces suffer record losses — Polish prime ministerDonald Tusk added that if this trend continues, the winter in Ukraine "could indeed prove catastrophic"Read moreSlovak premier says Ukraine’s decision not to sign peace deal in 2022 was a mistakeRobert Fico added that the West has been "pouring oil on the flames of the conflict in Ukraine," describing the possibility of a larger conflict between Russia and NATO as a "mortal danger"Read morePutin says Russia ready to respond to seizure of ships, calls on West 'to be friends'Vladimir Putin said that Russia had taken note of the European drills in the Baltic Sea, including the practice of seizing civilian vesselsRead moreEU continues to ignore Ukraine’s attacks on nuclear power plants — Finnish politicianArmando Mema added that the EU remains one of the main suppliers of weapons for KievRead moreDmitriev says Europe in largest energy crisis in historySpecial Representative of Russian President for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) also gave a comment on reports of fuel supply disruptions in FranceRead moreRussian air defenses down 1,110 Ukrainian drones overnightOn-duty air defense systems intercepted and destroyed fixed-wing drones over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Tambov, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Smolensk, Oryol, Rostov, Volgograd and Saratov regions, the Samara Region, the Krasnodar Region, the Moscow Region and the Republic of Crimea, as well as over the Black SeaRead moreRussian parliamentary elections enter their final dayFirst results will be known after 6:00 p.m. GMT, when the polling stations close in Russia’s Baltic exclave of KaliningradRead moreAfD clinches victory in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state vote, exit poll showsThe AfD is leading the vote with approximately 37%, followed by the SPD at around 35.5%, and The Left Party at about 7.5%Read moreSaudi Arabia repels Houthi missile attack on Riyadh — coalitionBrigadier General Turki al-Maliki said that the Houthis had stepped up their attempts to attack civilian targets in the capitalRead moreTwo people killed in drone attack on bus in Kherson Region — CEC chairwomanOne of them is an election commission member, Chairwoman of Russia’s Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova saidRead moreCentral Election Commission views sabotage in Far East as attempt to disrupt electionsHead of CEC Ella Pamfilova noted, that the saboteurs left four large regions of without connectivityRead moreUS used AI in preparation for attack on school in Iran’s Minab — BloombergThe US military did not take advantage of a whole series of opportunities to prevent the tragedy, the agency saidRead morePolling stations close in Russia’s easternmost regions, Kamchatka, ChukotkaElection commissions have begun counting the votesRead moreRussian forces advance on Nadiya from DPR’s Dobropolye, expert saysMilitary expert Andrey Marochko suggested that Nadiya would soon come under the control of the Russian militaryRead moreUkrainian troops in Kursk Region will be destroyed, if refuse to surrender — MedvedevThe politician noted that the coming hours will show whether the Kiev regime will use the chance to save its soldiersRead moreUkraine intensifies terrorist activities ahead of Russian parliamentary vote — diplomatRodion Miroshnik reported the death of a member of a territorial election commissionRead moreRussian regional authorities, military ready for Kiev’s provocative acts — diplomatRodion Miroshnik added that regional authorities have a vast experience of organizing the voting process under such circumstancesRead more